Neon lamp generator



March 27, 1934.

31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 d ATTORNEYS March 27, l934- R. M. cRrrcHl-'IELD 1,952,121

NEON LAI? GENERATOR Filed Dec. 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 50 ff Ll/ y 62 V65 v maj? w64 l? 6,3/ v i aiented i/ar. 27, i934 U'E STATES PATET FFIC NEON LAMP GENERATOR Application December 31, 1536, Serial No. 505,787

2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying suitable current for operating neon lamps and similar apparatus requiring relatively high voltage.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a neon lamp current generator especially adapted for use on automotive vehicles equipped with a current source of relatively low voltage for supplying current :for lighting, ignition and starting purposes. This aim of the present invention is carried out by an induction apparatus in which electrical energy is alternately stored and then discharged at relatively high voltage in order to supply a rapid succession oi voltage impulses suitable icr operating a neon lamp. The control of the induction coil is efiected by a periodic circuit breaker operated by a small electrical motor. Both the coil and motor are supplied from the current of relatively low voltage such as the storage battery or the generator charges the battery. The induction coil and circuit breaker and motor are cornbined in a simple and compact unitary structure oi relatively small dimensions thereby enabling the to be used conveniently on an automotive Vehicle.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

1 is a View showing the ignition coil in side elevation and showing the motor and circuit rea-ker in elevation and also the housing in vertical longitudinal sections, the section being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the ignition coil and base and shows the part of the housing and motor in sections, the section being taken on line 2-2 of 1.

Fig. 3 is a view looking in 'the direction of the arrow 3 of the Fig. l and shows the base or the apparatus in a section, this section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 and the housing in a sectional view taken on the line 3A or Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the circuits embodying the invention shown in the preceding figures.

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram showing a modiiied form of the invention adapted to supply current for two neon lamps.

n the drawings designates the base which f supports an ignition coil 21 which as shown in (Cl. F75-357) Fig. 4 has a primary winding 22 and a secondary winding 23. One terminal 24 oi the coil 22 connected by a wire 25 with a terminal 26 insulatingly supported by the base 26 and connected with a fuse clip 27 connected by a fuse 28 with a clip 29 connected with terminal 36. The terminal 30 is connected by suitable switch 31 with a battery 32 grounded at 33. The other terminal 34 of the coil 22 is connected by a wire 35 with a terminal 36 of a condenser 37 grounded at 38 upon the base 20. The terminal 36 is connected by a wire 39 with a terminal bracket 40 insulatingly supported by the base 20 and attached to one end oi the leaf spring conductor 41 having its other end attached to a circuit breaker lever 42 pivoted at 43. lThe spring 4l electrically connects the bracket 46 with the lever 42, urges the rubbing block 44 against cam 45 and urges a contact 46 carried by a lever 42 into engagement with a stationary contact 47 supported by bracket 48 integral with a frame 20 and therefore grounded as indicated at 49 in Fig. 4. The secondary Winding 23 is grounded through the wire 25 and the fuse 28 and battery 32 and is connected with a terminal 50 to which a cable 51 is connected for connecting the coil with a neon lamp 52 grounded at 53. The terminal 5() is connected with a wire 54 the end of which is spaced from the terminal 24 so as to provide a safety spark gap 55.

The base 20 supports a small electric motor 60 having a U-shaped frame 51 carrying a pole 62 supporting an electric magnetic winding 63, and carrying consequent pole 64. Between the poles 62 and 64 there rotates an armature 65 mounted on a shaft 66 supported by bearings 67 and 68 provided respectively by a base 20 and frame 61. The windings of the armature are properly connected with a commutator 69 against which brushes 70 and 71 are yieldingly urged by a spring 72 which connect together the two brush holders 3 and 74 respectively which support the brushes 70 and 71. The brush 70 is insulatingly supported by the frame 6l and is connected with the terminal 26 and with one end of the iield magnetic'winding 63. The other brush 'll is grounded on the frame as indicated in numeral 75 in Fig. 4 and is connected with the other end of the iield magnetic winding 63. The shaft 66 of the electric motor carries the circuit interruptor cam 45.

The coil, interruptor, condenser, and motor are enclosed by housing 8O resting upon a gasket 81 and attached to the base 20. The housing carries a rubber grommet 82 through which extends miy ' with the' aiX a.

a non-conducting sleeve 83 of the coil 21 which sleeve carries the secondary winding terminal 5G. A rubber nipple 84 surrounds the insulation of the cable 51 and the outwardly projecting end of the sleeve 83.

When the switch 31 is closed the battery 32 is connected with the motor and with the induction coil. The motor rotates at relatively high speed to effect the alternate closing and opening of the contacts 46 and 47 to cause electri cal energy to be stored in the coil during the closing period of the contact and to cause this energy to be discharged in the form of the high Voltage impulses when these contacts are opened. By the generation of a rapid succession of high voltage impulses which are conducted from the secondary winding 23 to the neon lamp 52, the gases therein are caused to become incandescent.

The wiring diagram in Fig. 5 discloses the manner of using one motor and periodic circuit breaker to control the plurality of ignition coils each for supplying high voltage impulses to a neon lamp.

In Fig. 5 parts corresponding with parts in Fig. 4 are referred to by similar reference characters It will be noted that the primary windings 22a and 22h of the two coils 21a and 2lb are connected together in series with the circuit interrupter and with a battery of a voltage greater than the battery 32 required for op- Yerating one neon lamp. Each of the secondary windings of the induction coils is connected with a neon lamp. Since it requires no more power to operate a circuit interrupter which controls two .coils than it does for operating a circuit interrupter which controls one coil, the same motor can be used for driving the circuit interrupter of Fig. 5 as Was used in Fig. 4. Therefore this motor is not connected with all the cells of the bat- -tery 32a but with only a sunicient number oi `themto operate the motor.

For example if a 12 volt battery is required to operate both neon lamp coils 21a and 2lb and a 6 volt motor is all that is necessary to operate the interrupter, the motor 60 is not connected with the wire 25a. as in the preceding case but is connected by separate electric switch 90 with an intermediate tap 91 of the battery `32a, switch 90 being operated concurrently with switch 31a. While the form of invention shown in Fig. 5 is illustrated with two separate neon lamps, it will be understood that this form of apparatus can be used for lighting separate sections of gas filled tubing. vFor example, ii one induction coil operated -by a six volt battery will supply the necessary current for operating one l lamp or Section of tubing of Va certain size lled "being operated by a six volt induction coil.

with a certain kind of gas, and a longer piece oi tubing is necessary for the making of a letter in an illuminated sign, this tubing can be divided into sections of suitable length, each capable of Where the lamp tubing is divided into a plurality of sections, la plurality of induction coils are used,

one for each section, and these coils may be corinected in series with a current source of suitable voltage, as shown in Fig. 5.

While the present specification describes the use of the invention with a neon lamp, it will be understood that the invention is applicable to other lamps lled with gases such as argon or helium.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. Induction apparatus for producing high alternating potentials, comprising in a unitary structure, a base, a housing having an opening therein, a transformer mounted on the base and having a primary and a secondary winding, one end of said secondary winding having a terminal connected thereto and extending through said opening in the housing, means for insulatingly spacing the terminal from the housing, a motor rotor having a shaft, a commutator and a cam mounted on the shaft, said rotor mounted within the housing and closely associated with the transformer, a stator associated with the rotor and including a winding, bearings for supporting the shaft, one ci said bearings heilig secured to the base, a frame member also within the housing :tor supporting the stator and the other of said bearings, brushes cooperating with the commutator, a breaker arm pvotally mounted on the base and actuated by the cam, means resiliently urging the breaker arm toward the cam, a contact mounted on the breaker arm, a cooperating Contact secured to the hase, a condenser secured to the base within the housing and connected to the contacts, and means for making connections to said brushes, stator winding, contacts and primary to operate the unit from a single and relatively low voltage source.

2. Induction apparatus for producing high alternating potentials, comprising in a unitary structure `and within a single enclosure, a transformer having an insulatingly mounted high voltage terminal easily accessible from outside the enclosure, a motor rotor having a shaft, a stator enclosing a portion of the rotor and having a winding thereon, bearings supporting the rotor, one of said bearings being supported by the enclosure, a frame supporting the other of said bearings, a cam secured to the motor shaft, a breaker arm pivotally mounted on the enclosure and adapted to be actuated by the cam, resilient means urging the breaker arm toward the cam, cooperating contacts, one of which is secured to the breaker arm and the other of which is secured to the enclosure, a condenser secured to the enclosure and connected across the contacts, and .1

means for making electrical connections to said motor, contacts and transformer.

ROBERT M. CRITCHFIELD. 

